Croup is a type of cough many kids will have at least once before they turn 5 years old. It is a scary but usually harmless illness, and there are lots of natural remedies to help your little one feel better quickly (and help everyone get to sleep again!).

​What Exactly is Croup?

Croup is a swelling of the windpipe that can happen when your child has an upper respiratory infection. It’s this swelling that causes the barking cough and the wheezing sound you may hear when your child breathes in. This is distinct from the wet, mucusy-sounding cough you'll hear when your child gets a virus or irritant down in their lungs.

Most of the time a case of croup starts as just a regular cold or a mild flu. A few days into their sickness your child may lie down and start a loud, raspy, barking cough, possibly with some gasping or wheezing in between. This is what’s often describes as the “seal bark cough.”

Croup: The Overview

- How common is it?Croup is super common! It’s hard to get a clear statistic on the incidence of croup because most parents don’t need to bring their kid to the ER (so no records are collected) but a good estimate is that around one in four kids will get this at least once in their lives.​- Who gets croup?It’s most common is babies, toddlers, and kids under six. Older kids can get croup, but it’s rare.

- What is croup caused by? Usually a virus like the flu virus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

- Is it contagious?Sort-of. The viruses that cause croup can easily be spread from kid to kid. Not all kids who get these viruses will end up with croup, but it's always possible.

- How long does croup last?Croup will usually be over in 2-3 days, but it can last as long as a week.

- Is there a vaccine for croup?Nope, because croup isn’t from a specific bug. However, the flu shot could reduce your child’s odds of getting croup from the flu.

Signs and Symptoms of Croup

﻿Signs of Mild to Moderate Croup

A “seal-bark” cough, often worse at night

Fever (usually under 104 degrees)

Hoarse voice

Stridor (a wheezing or gasping noise while breathing in)

More Serious Signs

Constant gasping, with an anxious or stressed expression

Weak, listless, uninterested in play

Unwilling to lie down because of coughing or difficulty breathing

Leaning forward and drooling because it hurts too much to swallow (this can be signs of an infection in the epiglottis and warrants a trip to the ER)

​In other words, a serious case of croup will look really serious, and the odds are you’ll already be at the ER or considering heading over there if it gets this bad.​

Preventing Croup

As always, the best defense is a good offense. Get your child’s immune system in top form by feeding them a diet that’s high in brightly colored fruits and vegetables. ​

Eat organic as much as possible to get the best nutrients and avoid pesticides and herbicides, making sure they get plenty of vitamin A, B6, C and D, folate, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc (yep we may be talking about a kids multivitamin here, at least through cold and flu season).

﻿Natural Remedies for Croup

Like most viral illnesses, croup will generally resolve on it's own within a few days. The following herbs and homeopathic remedies can help your child kick the virus that's causing their croup a little faster, or help soothe some of the worst of their symptoms:

​Elderberry syrup (sambucus nigrans)​This is a great anti-viral herb, and it’s delicious to boot, meaning that it’s easy to get your kid to take. Elderberry is especially effective against the flu virus, but it slows the replication of many other types of viruses as well. It’s also an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can help with the swelling of the trachea in croup. ​

Olive leaf extract (olea europaea)​Olive leaf contains a phytochemical called oleuropein which is effective against a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and even protozoan. Olive leaf can also be taken as a general immune booster throughout the cold and flu season.​

Raw honey lemon tea (kids over 12 months only)

Yep, this is a favorite among grandmas worldwide: raw, unfiltered honey has strong antimicrobial properties and can soothe an irritated throat and larynx. Put a teaspoon in hot water with the juice from half a lemon for a little flavor and an extra kick of vitamin C.​

Humidifiers or cool mist​Humidifying the air can help reduce the dryness and raspiness of a croup cough. Most humidifiers have a feature where you can add essential oils. Good essential oils for a croupy cough can include rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, and thyme.​

Homeopathic treatment for croup​There is a specific triad of homeopathic remedies that’s been used for croup for over 100 years: Aconite, Spongia tosta, and Hepar sulph. Typically it’s given like this:

Aconite 12c or 30c: Given once every two hours on the first night of the cough.

Spongia tosta 12c or 30c: Given once every two hours after the first day, when the cough becomes dry and raspy (the cough is often described as similar to the sound of sawing wood).

Hepar sulph 12c or 30c: Given once every two hours in the last day or two of the illness, once the cough sounds a little more wet and mucusy (more like a normal cough).

A Note on Croup and Antibiotics

Before you head over to your doctor’s office, remember that croup is almost always caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not effective against viruses. The only time antibiotics would help a child with croup is if the infection were bacterial instead of viral, which is very rare (and generally causes much more extreme symptoms, at which point you’d likely have already taken your kid into urgent care or the ER). Because of this, antibiotics are not generally recommended for your run-of-the-mill croup. Despite this, some doctors will still offer antibiotics for croup in order to put parents at ease and/or as a “just in case” measure. ​​

​While croup can be a frightening (and exhausting) illness,

most kids who get croup recover just fine on their own. Trust your instincts: if you feel like your child is struggling to breathe, get them over to the hospital! If you’re concerned or unsure about your child’s cough, it’s always a good idea to call your pediatrician. Even in the busiest practices, most docs will see your child for a quick same-day acute visit.

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​This blog is intended for educational purposes only.Information expressed herein does not constitute medical advice and in no way should be used as a substitute for the advice and attention of a qualified medical practitioner.

While many states offer regular medical licensing to naturopathic physicians, Michigan does not currently offer licensure to naturopathic doctors. I am licensed as a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) in the State of Vermont. In Michigan, until our licensing bill is passed, naturopathic medicine is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease and is not intended as a substitute for regular medical care. Because of this I work locally under the title Naturopathic Health Consultant.